Good byes are tough. I'm planning on being gone five months. That's not a terribly long period of time, but it's more than enough time to make you miss someone. I've spent the last five years watching Wizards games, sweating over work and bumbling about U street with the same people. I won't be able to do those things with those people over the next five months. I'm going to miss that. One of the most important lifestyle adjustments I'll be making in the near future will be figuring out ways to temporarily redefine relationships. That and figuring out how to not get eaten by bears.

Good byes are revealing. This is particularly true in the context of work. I've been employed in white-collar office environments over the past 5 or 6 years. Professionalism has always been characteristic of those office cultures. Part of that professionalism entails a separation of personal and professional lives. The moment I told people I was leaving to embark on this journey, the wall separating the personal and professional realms came tumbling down. Over a two-week period I learned about all of the BAD ASS STUFF my colleagues had done in their lives. World travels, spiritual journeys, creative projects, my colleagues had done it all! It's sort of a bummer to learn all of this cool stuff at the last moment, but I guess it's better late than never.

Good byes are fun. This good bye has consisted of best friends, a block party and vodka samplers at the Russia House. Shoot, I need to say "good bye" more often...